Cooler



C. I. BROWN April 4, 1939.

COOLER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 29 ATTOR N EYS April 4, 1939. c, BROWN 2,153,452

COOLER Filed April 29, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 T ATTORN EYS COADE 1V5 E R Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE. 1

1 Claim.

This invention relates to coolers especially adapted for chilling the contents of containers and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which will circulate in direct contact with containers a chilled liquid to quickly lower the temperature of the contents of said containers and may maintain the temperature of the contents at substantially the same temperature as the chilling liquid and will provide a device which will be economical in operation and may have a portion thereof in use for chilling containers by the chilled liquid while another portion thereof may be employed for dry cooling or rendered entirely inoperative and thereby reduce operating costs of the device in entirety.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan View illustrating a cooler constructed in accordance with my invention with a fragmentary portion of the cover thereof shown in an open position.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 2..

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view illustrating a modified form of my invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral I indicates a trough-like-cabinet, open at its upper end and equipped with a hinged cover 2 for the purpose of closing and opening said cabinet. The cover and the walls of the cabinet are of the insulated type and arranged in the cabinet is a transverse partition 3 also of an insulated construction and has therein a doorway 4 controlled by a hinged door 5. A partition 3 divides the cabinet I into chilling chambers 6 and l and the doorway 4 provides communication between said chambers when the cover is in a closed position. Communication between said chambersfi and 1 may be interrupted by closing the door 5. Supported one above the other in the chamber 1 by the partition 3 are perforated pipes 8 having communication with the chamber 6. The purpose of the perforated pipes is to transfer chilled liquid from the chamber 6 to the. chamber l' in spray form and are provided with cutoff valves 9. 5

A chilling unit In is arranged in the chamber 6 of the cabinet at one end of said chamber and forms a part of a conventional type of mechanical refrigerating system and as the latter forms no part of the present invention it is not shown. It is to be understood that the mechanical refrigerating system is located exteriorly of the cabinet. A baffie plate ll extends transversely of the cabinet within'the chamber 6 adjacent the chilling unit Ill and is spaced a limited dis- 15 tance from the bottom of the cabinet to permit liquid to flow thereunder. Arranged exteriorly of the cabinet is a liquid circulating pump l2 of any well known construction, the inlet pipe I3 thereof extending into the cabinet through the chamber 6 adjacent the bottom of the cabinet and into the chamber 1. The outlet pipe M of the pump extends into the cabinet and terminates over the chilling unit in the form of a nozzle 15 so as to spray liquid on a chilling unit for gravitation thereover when the pump I2 is in operation, it being understood that the pump takes the liquid from the chambers 6 and l. The inlet pipe I3 has a cut-off valve I 6 located in the chamber 1 for closing the portion of the inlet pipe lying in the chamber 1 to the pump. A stand pipe I1 is connected with the inlet pipe and is located vertically within the chamber 6 and has a cutoff valve I8. The cutoff valve 18 when opened will permit the pump to obtain liquid from the chamber 6 still maintaining the liquid in said chamber at a predetermined level, it being understood that the liquid gravitating over the chilling unit flows into the chamber 6 from under the baffle II. A supply pipe l9 having a cutoff valve 20 is connected to the inlet pipe l3. The purpose of the supply pipe I9 is to furnish liquid to the chambers 6 and 1 when necessary.

In operation, containers to be chilled are grouped in the chambers 6 and l and with the pump I2 in circulation the chilling liquid is circulated over the chilling unit into the chamber 6 coming in a direct contact with the containers therein. The chilled liquid passes from the chamber 6 into the chamber 1 by either of the pipes 8 depending on which pipe is open to the chamber 6. The chilled liquid sprays from the pipe 8 onto the container in the chamber 1. The liquid is taken from the chambers 6 and I by 55 the pump l2 through the inlet pipe l3. With this arrangement the containers may be chilled by having the chilling liquid circulating in direct contact therewith or by having chilled liquid sprayed against the containers. Sometimes it may be desirable to only use the chamber 6 for chilling containers and the chamber 1 may be cutofi therefrom by closing the valves 9 and 16 for rendering the chamber 1 inoperative, consequently reducing the cost of operation. Then again it may be desired to keep articles cool in the chamber 1 while the chamber 6 is in use for chilling containers by having the chilling liquid coming in direct contact with the con' tainers. The door 5 under these conditions is moved into an open position to permit circulation of air between the chambers 6 and 1.

A baffle 20 may be employed in lieu of the baffie II. The bafile 20 extends to the bottom of the cabinet and its lower portion has a. plurality of ports 2| to permit the chilling liquid to flow through the lower portion of the bafile from the chilling unit to the chamber 6.

ing means located in said one of the chambers,

and a circulating means for receiving liquid from said chambers and discharging said liquid onto the chilling means for return to said one of the chambers and to the other chamber by way of said perforated pipes.

CHARLES I. BROWN. 

